Going Lean: How the Best Companies Apply Lean Manufacturing Principles to Shatter Uncertainty, Drive Innovation... (repost)

Going Lean sets aside the notion that efficient operations and powerful inno­vations are only possible when business is steady and demand is growing. Instead, companies must learn that sudden shifts or unpredictable conditions need not undermine their results.

Led by a new breed of companies -Toyota, Wal-Mart, and Southwest Airlines–a powerful, yet unexpected mindset is reshaping the rules for business competitiveness. By using Lean Dynamics ™–based on the now-famous Toyota Production System–companies everywhere can thrive in virtually any environment.

In Going Lean, readers will learn how to: become broadly effective in creating and sustaining value * set a critical foundation for achieving sustained excellence * identify sources of lag and create robust value streams that thrive in today's dynamic conditions * describe the underlying techniques to maintain steady and predictable flow * create a system based on "pull," or external demand that consistently introduces new innovation even during severe downturns * strive for perfection * deliver industry-leading returns